Prince William, the heir to the British throne, has shared a poignant memory from his childhood, recalling a visit to a homeless shelter with his mother, Princess Diana, and his brother, Prince Harry. The anecdote was shared in a preview for the upcoming documentary, “Prince William: We Can End Homelessness,” which will air on ITV on October 30th.
In the preview, Prince William describes the visit to the Passage, a homeless support organization, stating, “My mother took me and my brother to the Passage, I was probably about 11 or 10. It was the first time I’d been to a place like that, and I was slightly apprehensive about what it would be like.”
This marks a significant moment, as it is one of the few times Prince William has publicly mentioned his younger brother, Prince Harry, in recent years. The brothers have been estranged since Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their royal duties in 2020. While the brothers attended the memorial service for their late aunt, Lady Robert Fellowes, in August, they reportedly did not interact.
The documentary focuses on Prince William’s five-year commitment to tackling homelessness, highlighting his work with the organization. Prince William, who has been a patron of the Passage since 2019, further reflects on the impact of the initial visit: “My mother, as usual, just relaxed everyone and was laughing and joking with everybody. You think, ‘how sad is it that they don’t have a home,’ but the environment wasn’t depressing.”
He continues to detail how the experience shifted his perspective: “I remember having a good chat with them, playing chess. And that’s the first time I really realized there’s a whole world out there that’s completely different to my own, because when you’re young, you only really see what’s in front of you, you don’t have the concept of looking outside of that. So you meet people, and it opens your eyes.”
“Prince William: We Can End Homelessness” will feature Prince William’s launch of the “Homewards” program, an initiative aimed at tackling homelessness through his Royal Foundation. The documentary will also highlight the stories of individuals currently facing homelessness, as well as those who have overcome the challenges. The film will feature interviews with prominent advocates and activists in the field.
The documentary serves as a testament to Prince William’s dedication to addressing this critical issue. It also offers a glimpse into his personal journey, as he reflects on the profound impact his mother’s activism had on shaping his views.
